Cyclists who flout the law by riding on pavements in Lincoln should be slapped with £50 fines, says a local councillor.

Rob Parker, who represents Lincoln Carholme on the county council, said police in Lincoln should follow the example of Skegness where Inspector Matt Bennison warned that cyclists face a fine for riding on footpaths.

Councillor Parker said: "For too long local community and business groups in Lincoln have been reporting that cycling on the pavements is not only dangerous but increasing.

"It's particularly dangerous on hills like Yarborough Road, Steep Hill, The Strait and High Street where cyclists can be seen travelling on the footpaths at a pretty fair speed.

"It puts at risk people who are most vulnerable and who can't easily get out of the way.

"And that's why I have written to the local chief inspector urging a change of approach in Lincoln by Lincolnshire Police to ticket those who cycle on the pavement."

He said: "As in all things, there has to be an element of common sense applied to enforcement activities by police and Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

"When the fixed penalty notice for cycling on a footpath was introduced, the Home Office specifically stated that this should not be used to penalise cyclists where they feel threatened by busy traffic in an area.

"I am sure that we would all be appalled at the thought of a child or elderly person being prosecuted for riding in a safe manner on the footpath along a busy main road at peak rush hour.

"I do not believe that enforcement per se is the answer, responsible cycling is. There is no need to cycle in the pedestrian precinct for example.

"There is no excuse for someone pedalling hell for leather along a busy pavement. While we will enforce where there is a risk to public safety, I believe that advice is often just as effective."

Read More

Mr Brinn said: "In the same way as cyclists should be aware of the dangers they pose to pedestrians, motorists should also be aware of the risk that their driving poses to cyclists and take care.

"Lincoln as a city encourages cyclists with an abundance of designated cycle lanes but they do not cover the entire city and I believe officers must use discretion to balance the safety of all users of our roads."

Cycling on the road on the lower High Street

Cyclist, pedestrian and motorist Rodney Jelfs, 80, from Heighington, said: "Adult cyclists should not be on the footpaths but I think the roads should be made safer for cyclists to ride on and footpaths made safe for pedestrians to walk on.

"I wouldn't do that now but I did when my children were little and we wanted to encourage them to get into cycling and we didn't feel safe with them on the roads.

"I think motorists need to be more aware of cyclists. Only the other day a car came out of a junction in the west end even though it was my right of way.

"Pedestrians too need to keep off the cycle paths. As a cyclist you can ring your bell to let people know you are approaching - it's not being rude - but some people who are wearing headphones may not hear you."

Richard Baxter, Lincoln BIG's retail support officer, said that as a cyclist himself he obeys the Highway Code but many others do not.

He said: "Three or four times a year I mention having signs in place in Steep Hill, The Strait and the High Street warning cyclists that they will be prosecuted for cycling between 10am and 4pm but after a long time of asking I've never got anywhere.

"At the sweet shop in The Strait I saw several near misses a week. It's common sense for cyclists to follow the rules."